Page 59 of Thorned Vengeance

“Why do you want to know?” The officer raises his brow, his mouth set in a firm line.

I push forward. “I know the victims.”

The officer’s eyes soften. “I’m sorry, honey. They were shot execution style. Dead by the time we got here.” He takes a deep breath. “Cash drawer was open but doesn’t look like anything was taken. The robber must’ve gotten spooked.”

“Thank you, Officer.” I link my fingers with Thorn’s, and grab Mark’s elbow. “Hotel, now.”

It’s too much of a coincidence.

My mind races as we rush back to the hotel. I keep my mouth shut until the door shuts softly behind me once we reach our room. I didn’t want to worry about someone overhearing me on the street.

Facing Thorn and Mark, I blurt, “It’s him.”

Thorn’s brows furrow, and he frowns. “De, we do?—”

“It’s the Phantom!” I shout.

Mark steps forward. “Why do you think that?”

I brush my hair out of my face. “Think about it. The Phantom is changing his game. The body that was discovered in Louisville—a location not on his map—and the victim in Philly who wasn’t targeted at his usual hunting ground, and now this… a fake robbery. You heard the cop, nothing was taken. He’s making a statement.”

Thorn rubs his temples. “Fuck, you’re right,” he concedes.

“I know I am. And here’s a question that scares the hell out of me. How the fuck did he know these two were my clients?”

CHAPTER 27

THORN

“This guy’s good.”

I scowl at Mark before glancing in the rearview mirror to make sure Delaney is still sleeping. She’s been a wreck since her clients were slaughtered in Seattle.

“We’re better,” I snap.

“Thorn, he’s been ten steps ahead this whole time,” Mark insists. “What if we can’t catch him?”

“Failure isn’t an option,” Delaney grumbles from the backseat.

Mark twists in the passenger seat to look at her. “Sorry. I thought you were out.”

“Well, I wasn’t.”

“She’s right, though,” I say. “The Phantom Strangler will be caught because there is no other acceptable outcome.”

“And if you think otherwise, we’ll drop you at the clubhouse before we search Vegas,” Delaney says, popping her head in between us.

“Oh, hell no.” Mark shakes his head. “I’m in this with you.”

“Then keep your negativity to yourself,” Delaney gripes.

Silence fills the SUV as we continue southeast. I’m about to break it when my cell rings.

“Hello,” I say after pressing the answer button on the steering wheel.

“Thorn, it’s Jez. Am I on speaker?”

“Yep.”

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